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Telvin Smith is the less heralded of the two talented Florida State linebackers, the other being Christian Jones. That doesn't mean that Smith doesn't have a place in the first couple of rounds. He's a talented, rangy tweener that can cover pretty much everybody.
That sounds good to me.
Pros
- Extremely athletic, his top end speed is near the best among LB candidates.
- Fundamentals are strong. He's a very sound tackler.
- Awareness in coverage is off the charts. Best in this class among LBs.
- Range is awesome. True sideline to sideline player.
- Controlled aggressiveness. Doesn't overshoot plays very often and displays great suddenness.
Cons
- Severely undersized. May just be a large safety prospect. 6-foot-3, 220 pounds.
- Can get lost in the wash at times and get run out of the play.
- Inadequate block shedder.
- Pass rushing skills need some work.
Does He Fit With The Giants?
Yes. He would be a WILL for us, moving Jacquian Williams to SAM. He would certainly take over as the third safety in a Buffalo Nickel set and seems like a perfect player for that formation. He definitely needs to gain weight in order to effectively play LB at this point, but he certainly will allow the Giants to use different formations and looks because of his versatility.
Besides, he, like Williams, is the perfect weapon to use against the more athletic tight ends and RB/WR hybrids like Dexter McCluster and Randall Cobb.
Prospect Video
Telvin Smith vs Duke (2013) (via Adrian Ahufinger)
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - Not in top 50
Mocking The Draft - 94
CBS Sports - 60
Draft Countdown - 95
Draft Tek - 138
Final Thoughts
At this point in time, I don't know that Telvin Smith is a three-down linebacker. He seems like a nickel coverage specialist coming out of college, but he certainly has the upside to be much more than that. What sets him apart is his vision and awareness of what exactly is transpiring on the field. It's similar to Lavonte David in my eyes, and Smith certainly has the upside to get to that level.
But upside is upside, what you get right out of the box is different. Smith is a mid to late 3rd rounder for me because of this and not someone I target before the third round at earliest. He's value from then on.